MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon recently presided over a ceremony promoting six Sheriff’s Officers in the Historic Courtroom at the Morris County Courthouse. The ceremony marked a significant and positive impact on the management team of the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Law Enforcement. Chief Kelley Zienowicz remarked on how important this day was for the leadership of the Office and how their collective influence will be present for years to come. Sheriff Gannon said how proud and confident he was of all those promoted. He challenged them to seek ways to improve the operations of the Office and thanked family members for their support of the promoted officers. The following received commissions:

Detective Captain Laura Flynn
Detective Captain Laura Flynn attended Morris Knolls High School and obtained a degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Delaware. After her graduation, she had several jobs, including a position as an investigator with the New Jersey State Division of Consumer Affairs.

During her college years, Laura interned with the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, Crime Scene Investigation Section. She enjoyed it and applied for a job with the agency. Captain Flynn was hired by the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Law Enforcement on December 11, 2000, and began the Basic Police Training Academy in January 2001. Her first assignment was in the Protective Services Division. In December 2001, Captain Flynn was transferred to the Crime Scene Investigation Section, earning the title of Detective. The Crime Scene Investigation Section responds to over 1,000 cases per year and is responsible for assisting the 39 municipalities within Morris County and other county, state, and federal agencies. The section processes scenes about all types of crime, from criminal mischief to homicide. Captain Flynn has attended nearly 50 schools and conferences to hone her investigation skills, including advanced fingerprinting, bloodstain pattern analysis, digital photography, and shooting incident reconstruction. Captain Flynn has testified in several high-profile trials and qualifies as a fingerprint expert.

Captain Flynn was certified as a firearms instructor in July of 2007 and was appointed the Supervising Firearms Instructor in 2015. Captain Flynn was trained as an AFIS operator, and assisted with all latent print reports, submissions, and identifications. She became a Corporal in April of 2014, then was promoted to a Sergeant in February of 2015, where she remained in the Crime Scene Investigation Section. Captain Flynn was promoted to Detective Lieutenant in the Criminal Investigations Division in September 2019. She also served as a Lieutenant in the Community Outreach and Planning Section for one year. Captain Flynn is a member of the New Jersey State Division of the International Association for Identification. She recently completed the FBI LEEDA Executive Leadership Institute course.

Detective Captain Michael Turkot
Detective Captain Turkot is in his 20th year with the Morris County Sheriff’s Office. He has served in different roles throughout his career, but most recently, before this promotion, he served as Detective Lieutenant of the Legal Services Division. Throughout his tenure in Legal Services, Captain Turkot has modernized the division’s business practices. He is the Civil Process Committee chairperson for the Sheriff’s Association of NJ, requiring communication with the other 20 NJ Sheriff’s Offices. Captain Turkot is one of the legislative representatives for the Sheriff’s Association and routinely works with state legislators on bills and policies affecting the state’s Sheriff’s Offices. In addition to maintaining these roles and responsibilities, Captain Turkot continues to excel, by attending training courses and obtaining certifications, such as the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) Command and Leadership Academy.

Detective Lieutenant Craig Brooks
Detective Lieutenant Craig Brooks graduated from Boonton High School and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he served honorably for seven years, achieving the rank of Corporal. Lieutenant Brooks was stationed in Camp LeJeune, NC, and Picatinny Arsenal during his military time. He traveled the world and served two deployments in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom and one in Kosovo. Following his military service, he worked at ADP assisting with payroll operations and later joined Deutsche Bank as a Security Supervisor.

Lieutenant Brooks began his career with the Morris County Sheriff’s Office in 2005. After graduating from the academy, he was assigned to the Protective Services Division at the Morris County Courthouse. In 2010, Lieutenant Brooks transferred to the Special Services Division, Criminal Scene Investigation Section (CSI), where he obtained the rank of Detective. His responsibilities included assisting municipal and external law enforcement agencies with crime scene photography, processing, and evidence collection. He also supported the Ballistics Unit within CSI and was qualified as a Ballistics expert in the Superior Court.

In March 2016, Lieutenant Brooks was promoted to Detective Sergeant and transferred to the Evidence Unit, where he oversaw the daily operations of over 35,000 pieces of evidence. His responsibilities included evidence intake and distribution, training staff on the Barcoded Evidence Analysis Statistical Tracking (BEAST) system, and assisting with inquiries related to its use. He also played a key role in coordinating prescription medication disposal programs throughout Morris County. A few years later, Lieutenant Brooks assumed supervisory responsibility for the Evidence Unit and the Crime Scene Investigation Section. Throughout his career, Lieutenant Brooks has attended countless training courses and obtained various certifications that have assisted him in excelling in each assignment. Most recently, in March 2025, he completed the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (LEEDA) Course.

Detective Lieutenant Michael Abate
Detective Lieutenant Michael Abate graduated from The Citadel and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science. After graduating, he entered the United States Army and served in the Military Police Corps in various stateside and overseas assignments. After separating from the Army, Lieutenant Abate worked in finance at UBS, an investment banking company, and at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Lieutenant Abate joined the Morris County Sheriff’s Office in July 2012. After graduating from the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy’s 79th Basic Police Class, he served in a variety of assignments, including the Protective Services Division, Crime Scene Investigations, and the Evidence Section. His most recent position was as the Legal Services Sergeant of the Process section.

Lieutenant Abate continuously pursues knowledge and received his MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2017. He has completed the U.S. Army’s Military Police Advanced Course, the Combined Arms Services Staff School, Physical Security Course, and Anti-Terrorism Course. Throughout his career, Lieutenant Abate has received extensive training in crime scene investigations, including photography, bloodstain analysis, and accident investigations. His knowledge and expertise have qualified him as an expert witness in fingerprints and shooting reconstruction with the New Jersey Superior Court.

Sergeant Stephen Chiarella
Sergeant Stephen Chiarella graduated from County College of Morris, Summa Cum Laude, with an associate’s degree in finance. After a successful career in finance, his true passion was in public service. Sergeant Chiarella pursued his dream and began his law enforcement career with the Morris County Sheriff’s Office in July of 2013, where, upon graduation from the police academy, he was assigned to the Court Services Division.

Over the past 12 years, Sergeant Chiarella has served in various specialized roles, including assignments with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force. As a K-9 Handler, he obtained the title of Detective, where he completed rigorous training in both Patrol and Explosive Detection, training with the New Jersey State Police and the New Jersey Render Safe Task Force.

Sergeant Chiarella is a certified Firearms Instructor, a Field Training Officer, and a member of the New Jersey Judiciary Security Management Response Team, where he helps ensure safety and readiness across the NJ State court system.

Beyond his law enforcement duties, Sergeant Chiarella has shown commitment to his fellow officers through more than a decade of service on the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association Local 151 Executive Board. He has held numerous leadership positions, including President, Vice President, and New Jersey State Delegate, where he advocated for his peers’ rights, safety, and welfare.

Detective Sergeant Michael Vanarelli
Sergeant Michael Vanarelli attended Montville Township High School and earned an associate’s degree in management information systems from the County College of Morris. The Morris County Sheriff’s Office hired him in July 2013. Since then, he has been assigned to the Evidence Section under the Criminal Investigations Division and the Court Services Division, Protective Services Section.

MORRIS COUNTY — For over 25 years, Roots & Wings has remained one of the few organizations in New Jersey exclusively focused on empowering youth aging out of the foster care system. What began as a grassroots, volunteer-led effort by founder Irene DeGrandpre—who once welcomed foster youth into her own home—has evolved into a full-scale nonprofit built on compassion, community, and the unwavering belief that every young adult deserves a strong start in life.

The mission of Roots & Wings is clear: to provide safe housing, emotional support, life skills, and educational opportunities to young people aging out of foster care. Many of these youth face overwhelming odds: higher risks of homelessness, food insecurity, unemployment, and lack of family support. Roots & Wings offers an essential safety net that helps these individuals move from instability to independence.

The organization’s comprehensive program includes stable housing, case management, vocational and academic planning, life skills workshops, and community engagement. Roots & Wings covers 100% of its members’ rent and utilities during their participation, allowing them to focus on growth and future goals without the burden of basic survival.

In 2024 alone, the organization served 20 former foster youth. Among them:

• Four members graduated and are now employed and living independently.
• Five members are pursuing degrees in 2- and 4-year college programs—three on track to graduate in 2025.
• Other members are training in high-demand fields, including certified nursing assistant, home health aide, medical assistant, radiography, and patient services.

Since 2017, the Roots & Wings home in Parsippany has been a vital part of this journey, housing up to three program members at a time. With its proximity to schools, employers, and transportation, Parsippany offers critical access to opportunity. Currently, three young women are making strides at the Parsippany location:

• One will graduate this year with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology.
• Another is working toward her Patient Care Technician certification.
• The newest resident is pursuing her GED, building a foundation for future academic success.

One remarkable success story is that of C.S., a program member based in Parsippany who was recently honored at the Roots & Wings Rise & Fly Gala. In just over a year, C.S. has earned her SORA certification, enabling her to work as a security guard while continuing her studies. She is on track to graduate with a Criminal Justice and Psychology degree this December.

“They make me want to change,” said C.S. “I already wanted to, but because they know that I can do it and expect that from me, they made me see things that I didn’t see.”

Roots & Wings isn’t just a program—it’s a transformative community. In towns like Parsippany, where access meets opportunity, it is helping young adults rewrite their futures, one milestone at a time. Please visit their site here.

MORRIS COUNTY — The dedicated boys of Trail Life USA Troop #777, based at Trinity Baptist Church in Montville, showed exceptional community spirit during a recent outreach effort to support the Montville Kiwanis Food Pantry.

Under the leadership of Troopmaster Andrew Vigario, the Trailmen spent three hours stationed outside ShopRite of Parsippany collecting food and monetary donations. Their heartfelt efforts resulted in 45 bags of essential groceries and $221 in cash contributions—resources that will provide much-needed support to individuals and families facing food insecurity.

Montville Kiwanis President Larry Hines and member Ron Rauschart personally thanked the troop for its generosity and continued commitment to service. Their annual involvement is a shining example of youth leadership and civic engagement in the Parsippany-Montville community.

To learn more about how to donate or volunteer, visit the Montville Kiwanis Food Pantry. Click here.

Thank you, Troop #777, for making a difference year after year!